ROLE: Design Director/Co-Lead Designer
Project:
MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries
Release date:
December 2019
Studio:
Piranha Games Inc.
Platform(s):
PC, XBox Series X|S, Playstation 4|5
I joined the project later in its development cycle after finishing the final major feature in MechWarrior Online.
Noticing that many team members were working in silos, I facilitated communication between all disciplines to improve collaboration and help guide the project to completion.
This allowed my Co-Lead Designer to focus on his specialty of structuring and implementing procedurally generated missions.
Key Responsibilities:
Owner of design for core gameplay
Combat systems refinement
MechLab refinement
Enemy AI refinement
Collaborated with game designers and other teams to define progression goals, reward structures, and pacing to enhance player retention and satisfaction.
Managed and tracked level design schedules to ensure timely delivery of high-quality levels.
Coordinated with cross-functional teams to align design timelines with overall project goals and milestones.
Prioritized tasks based on project needs, resources, and deadlines, ensuring efficient workflow.
Monitored progress and adjusted schedules as needed to address delays or unforeseen challenges.
Conducted regular check-ins with the team to assess progress, provide feedback, and ensure alignment with design standards.
Managed communication of schedule updates to stakeholders, ensuring transparency and alignment.
Maintained communication across all disciplines to ensure alignment and address any concerns or roadblocks.
Managed and prioritized the project backlog, ensuring tasks were organized and deadlines were met.
Collaborated with team leads to track progress and make adjustments as necessary to keep the project on track.
Monitored player discussions on the studio’s public Discord server to gauge player sentiment and feedback.
Provided insights to the team to ensure alignment with player expectations and improve the player experience.
